MINERALS

Reaction to Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

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Carbonate minerals such as calcite tend to fizz or efferves when tested with Hydrochloric Acid (HCl).

Non-carbonate minerals, especially silicates will not react to HCl.

Mineral Hydrochloric Acid Test Video

Specimen	Characteristics
Chalk
	Specimen does not cleave, it is fine grained, very soft, white in color, and it DOES react to HCl
Kaolin
	Specimen does not cleave, it is fine grained, very soft, white in color, and it DOES NOT react to HCl
Calcite
	Specimen does cleave, it is not fine grained, intermediate in softness, white in color, and it DOES react to HCl
Feldspar
	Specimen does cleave, it is not fine grained, very hard in softness, white in color, and it DOES NOT react to HCl

Can you readily distinguish chalk from kaolin without acid? __________

Can you distinguish white feldspar from white calcite without acid?________

How? _______________________________________

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